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Kick off: Tuesday, 20.10.2015. @20:45
Venue: Estadio de Mestalla
Head to head record
Valencia vs Gent 2-0 (UEFA Intertoto Cup)
Gent vs Valencia 0-0 (UEFA Intertoto Cup)
Valencia vs Gent prediction
Valencia will be aiming to record their first home win in the 2015/2021 Champions League campaign when they host Gent at their Estadio de Mestalla on Tuesday evening. The Belgian outfit face an uphill task in their third group game, but they are surely capable of spoiling los Che’s party at “Mestalla”.
Morale-boosting win over Lyon
Valencia owners did remarkably well to keep hold of their key players in the summer transfer window, but los Che have yet to find the right form in the new la Liga campaign. Nuno Espirito Santo’s men sit in eighth position in the standings and a 3-0 win over Malaga at the weekend certainly helped them regain the confidence. On the other hand, Valencia were more than unfortunate not to grab something from their Champions League opener against Zenit, but the Spanish outfit managed to shock Lyon at Stade de Gerland in their second group game. Tuesday’s match against Gent is of big importance for los Che as a win over the Belgian side would see the Spaniards move one step closer to booking their place in the knockout stages. Paco Alcacer has been struggling to find his goal-scoring touch, but the Spanish attacker is likely to lead the line for the hosts against Gent. Alcacer will surely give 100% to open his goal-scoring account in the elite competition.
Sofiane Feghouli is a major doubt and he will be assessed on the match day. Alvaro Negredo was left out of the squad against Malaga and it remains to be seen if coach Nuno Espirito Santo will count on the left-footed attacker against Gent. Aymen Abdennour, Diego Alves and Enzo Perez remain in the recovery room.
De Buffalo’s eyeing their first win
Gent kicked off their Champions League campaign with a 1-1 draw against Olympique Lyon, with the team suffering a 2-1 loss to star-studded Zenit in their second group game. The Belgian side are now on a quest to record their first win of the 2015/2021 Champions League campaign, but Tuesday’s match against Valencia at Estadio de Mestalla will be anything but a walk in the park for the visitors. Hein Vanhaezebrouck’s troops are on a four-game winning run in the national championship and they are leading the chase for the domestic trophy. However, it is well known that Belgian Jupiler League is anything but high-quality and I would not be surprised if De Buffalo’s experience all sorts of problems in Tuesday’s clash against the Primera Division team. A man to watch in the away side will be Laurent Depoitre, who has netted seven goals in all competitions this term.
Thomas Foket is suspended, but Brecht Dejaegere returns to contention after serving a two-game ban. Erik Johansson has overcome his injury and the defender is widely expected to start the match.
Valencia vs Gent betting tip
Over the years Valencia have turned their Estadio de Mestalla into a real fortress. Los Che did suffer the 3-2 loss to Zenit in front of home fans, but it has to be noted that the Spanish side failed to turn their dominance into more than two goals back then. Gent often struggle on the travels, speaking of matches in European competitions and, taking everything into account, there is every chance Nuno Espirito Santo’s men will record their first home win in the process.
Tip: Valencia/Valencia
Odds: 2.25 (5/4) @Unibet
